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Grosse Pointe Boat Club

2023 BRIDGE AND BOARD

OFFICERS

Matt Bontomasi, Commodore

Brian Fromm, Vice Commodore

Jim Callahan, Rear Commodore

BOARD MEMBERS

Veronica Greiner

Kristen Dame

Paul Maiale

PC Buzz Young

PC Liz Natter

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Sheri Allor, Treasurer

Sharon Stellingwerf, Secretary

––

Joan Ferguson, Membership Chair

Sheila Tomkowiak, Website Administrator

Tamra Fromm, Website Editor

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PAST COMMODORES

1960-61 Dr. Edward R. Stoliker

1962-63 Al Adams

1964 Wilfred Barbret

1965 Robert Drean

1966 Russell Davis, III

1967 Stanley Shanck

1968 Frank Voorwerk

1969 Alvan Turney

1970 Ralph Bower

1971 Francis M. Huxley

1972 Edward Hickey

1973 Dr. Milton Lipson

1974 Ralph Burton

1975 Bruce Reynolds

1976 Dr. Frank McGillen

1977 Eugene O’Brien, Jr.

1978 Clifford Crockford

1979 James Finney

1980 Arthur Behm

1981 Charles L. Howe

1982 Thomas Guthat

1983 Dr. William C. Quinlan, Jr.

1984 Dale N. Scrace

1985 Robert Green

1986 William Twiddy

1987 Charles Witzke

1988 John Henfrey Smith

1989 Philip Allor

1990 Crosby Boyd

1991 Edward L. Harrah

1992 Arthur Kainz

1993 John Onstwedder

1994 Greg Tisdale

1995 Kenneth Munn

1996 Danny Krease

1997 Larry A. Dowers

1998 Thomas C. Van Der Maas

1999 David Hohlfeldt

2000 Bruce Srupp

2001 Ronald J. Borghi

2002 Donald Smolenski

2003 Frank Stellingwerf

2004 Stephen L. Sholty

2005 Jane K. Davies

2006 John Popovich

2007 Sheila Young Tomkowiak

2008 Wayne Onstwedder

2009 James Grenda

2010 Anne Nyboer

2011 Linda Onstwedder

2012 Maj-Britt Black

2013 Phil Gilbert

2014 Chris Greiner

2015 Geoff Boynton

2016 Jason Merkel

2017 Donald Smolenski

2018 George (Buzz) Young

2019 Reggie Beckius

2020 Dale Cox

2021 Leslie Wagner

2022 Elizabeth Natter

Founded in 1959, The Grosse Pointe Boat Club is a boating and social club (sail and power) located in Neff Park in the City of Grosse Pointe. The family-oriented club operates out of a repurposed garage fondly nicknamed The Littlest Club. The club hosts a variety of events including parties at the park and in the Scrace Marina, weekend rendezvous at various points on Lake St. Clair, sailboat races, and an annual Christmas party and Commodore’s Ball. We also offer annual safety inspections for boats in the marina.

THE LATEST NEWS

GPBC Ladies Gather for Tea

Ladies

Eight lovely GPBC ladies enjoyed fun and friendship along with lunch, tea and scones at The Pink House Tea Room in New Baltimore. Thank you to Karen Grobbel for organizing this first-time event!

Photos of the event can be viewed via the link:

flickr.com/photos/gpbcphotos/sets/72177720306500245/

2023 Commodore’s Ball

The 2023 GPBC Commodore’s Ball turned out to be, well, a ball!

It was a beautiful venue and so elegantly decorated. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails from the open bar were enjoyed while Sofia Bontomasi filled the air with the sweet sounds of cello music. The food was plentiful and delicious, and no one could have possibly left hungry. Anyone with a sweet tooth was satisfied with a piece of cake.

 

Poet Laureate, PCx2 Don Smolenski, had everyone laughing with his witty ode Celebrating the Commodore’s Ball. Fast Eddie Washington and his band, Detroit’s Own Soul Purpose, had the dance floor rocking.

What a privilege it was to be in the room with twelve Past Commodores! It was great to see new members, Tom & Lauren Krall and Dan Currier, in attendance. What a party!

The Ball would not have been a success without the help of many people including, the following: Jen DeWard, Sofia Bontomasi, PC Jane Davies, VC Brian & Tamra Fromm, Treasurer Sheri Allor, PC Buzz Young, PC Sheila Tomkowiak, Dan Currier, Steve Bowler, Kathy Grabruck, Pete & Dir. Kristen Dame, Dir. Veronica Greiner, and PC Geoff & Monica Boynton.

Photos of the event can be viewed via the link:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAsNN6

Everyone in attendance enjoyed the 2022 photo recap slideshow created by PC Buzz Young. To view, click the link below:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HdmFoAQiXhY5gQNe8

Many thanks to PC Liz Natter who did an outstanding job at the helm and was instrumental to the success of our club over this past year! Each of our 2022 events broke even or made money. PC Liz hosted or assisted many of these events. Her welcoming and energetic personality makes everyone feel a part of the club. And, her Manhattans aren’t too shabby either!

—Matt Bontomasi

Congratulations to the 2023 Bridge and Board

Commodore: Matt Bontomasi
Vice Commodore: Brian Fromm
Rear Commodore: Jim Callahan
Directors: Kristen Dame, Veronica Greiner, Paul Maiale, PC Liz Natter & PC Buzz Young
Treasurer: Sheri Allor
Secretary: Sharon Stellingwerf
Membership Chair: Joan Ferguson
Website Administrator: Sheila Tomkowiak
Website Editor: Tamra Fromm
Fleet Captain: PC Bill Quinlan

Left to right: Commodore Matt Bontomasi, Vice Commodore Brian Fromm, PC Liz Natter, PC Buzz Young, Dir. Veronica Greiner, Dir. Kristen Dame, Dir. Paul Maiale, Treasurer Sheri Allor. (Not Pictured: Rear Commodore Jim Callahan and Secretary Sharon Stellingwerf)

Nothing will stop this crew

Neither wind, nor rain, nor bees shall dampen the fun for the GPBC club members who attended Greek Under the Stars event on Saturday, August 20, at The Littlest Club. Okay, maybe there were no stars, but a good time was had by all.

Thanks to PC Leslie Wagner and Gentleman Alan for hosting. Thanks to the many hands that helped them setup and cleanup. To name a few (and I am sure I will have missed some): Erik and Constance Wahab, Marcia Cron and Director Jim Callaghan, Veronica Greiner, Ronda Evola, Kathy Long, RC Brian and Tamra Fromm.

Although summer is winding down, GPBC fun is far from over. Next Wing Ding is The Kaiser Cup Regatta on Sunday, Sept. 11. Stay tuned for details.

— Commodore Liz Natter

Back-to-back festivities

It was another beautiful weekend in the neighborhood and the perfect setting for two back-to-back GPBC events: the Homeport Rendezvous on Saturday, July 9, and the Commodores’ Breakfast on Sunday, July 10.

Hosted by PC Leslie Wagner, the Homeport Rendezvous was an informal gathering of members who came to the Littlest Club to picnic with their pals. Special thanks to PC Phil and Sheri Allor, PC Buzz Young and PC Sheila Tomkowiak, for diving in to help pull it all together at the last minute. Thanks too go to Connie Howe, Don and Paula Smolenski, Betsy Hohlfeldt, and a host of other members who helped set up and clean up on Saturday as well as help stage the clubhouse for Sunday morning.

At 7 a.m. Sunday the highly experienced Past Commodore crew swung into action, mixing pancakes, cracking eggs, and grilling up bacon and breakfast sausage. The PCs who donned club aprons included: PC/Host Leslie Wagner; PC Phil Allor; PC Dave Hohlfeldt; PC Don (the baconator) Smolenski; PC Frank Stellingwerf; PC Sheila Tomkowiak; PCs John, Wayne, and Linda Onstwedder; PC James Grenda; PC Buzz Young; and PC Dale Cox. Other hard workers included Bridge and Board Members Sheri (master organizer and the hardest working woman in the boat club) Allor, Matt Bontomasi, Duncan Currie, Brian Fromm, and Jim Callahagn. Special thanks for setup and cleanup help go to Veronica Greiner, Diane Currie, Betsy Hohlfeldt, and a host of others too numerous to name. By the time we closed up the clubhouse at 12:30, you never would have known that we had served a fabulous breakfast buffet and morning cocktails to more than 55 members.

Welcome new members: New members Sherry Gaines and son Eliot, and Lynne and Bernie Loperfido attended the weekend festivities. Other new members are: Julie and David Blake, Ed Rogers, Marshall Williams, and Karin Garrett.

In the pink: We were especially pleased to see Ken and Marty Casey at this event. We look forward to Ken’s continued recovery following receipt of a new kidney.

Photos from the Commodores’ breakfast are here.

Couldn’t have asked for a better evening

A perfect day set the scene for the Summer Chow Down at the Littlest Club Saturday, June 18!

The Lobsterfest crew of PCs Davies, Onstwedders and Hohfeldt reunited after the long Covid-19 pause to whip up a delicious dinner featuring Linda’s signature Caesar Salad, Dave’s clam chowder and Wayne’s incomparable grilled chicken. With grilled sausage/kraut, beans, cheesy potatoes, and corn on the cob added to the menu, we don’t think anyone missed the lobster.

The club never looked more beautiful decked in striped tablecloths with flowers on every table. This year’s event honored our late friend Steve Davies whose picture greeted us at the check-in table.

Lucky Lady Mickey Cox held the winning ticket for the 50/50 drawing and took home $135.

Seventy five members and friends attended the event. Many thanks to the co hosts PCs Linda and Wayne Onstwedder, PC Dave and Betsy Hohfeldt and PC Jane Davies for making the evening a smashing success and a fitting tribute to Steve. We were so lucky to be his friend.

Special thanks to the following members who also assisted in making this event special:

  • Don Beardsley – madras mixing, food prep, grilling, boiling, baking, serving and all the legwork in between.
  • Erik and Constance Wahib – check in
  • VC Matt and daughter Sofia Bontomasi – 50/50 drawing

More photos from the party are here.

Thanks to PC Buzz Young for taking all the great pictures for all our events.

Fitting Out Party Recap

The 2022 GPBC season, under the steady hand of Commodore Liz Natter, is off to a terrific start. The Fitting Out Party on May 14 was a great success with an activity-filled day and evening.

In the morning, PCs Don Smolenski and Dave Hohfeldt performed boat safety inspections. They gave several decals to boats that passed and guided others in what they need to do to earn a decal. And as we all understand, safety on the water is our top priority.

At 5 p.m., PC Buzz Young, assisted by Mayor/PC Sheila Tomkowiak and Race Committee Chair Jay Kaiser, unveiled two beautiful new park benches at the end of the pier that were purchased with generous donations from GPBC members. Both benches sport plaques thanking the donors. The bench that will be used by our Race Committee on Wednesday nights was completely funded by Sid and Al (The Old Cannon Whacker) LeChard. Jay’s colorful remarks not only commended The Old Cannon Whacker for the bench, but mentioned his and Sid’s colorful career at the end of the Pier on Wednesday nights.

The second bench was funded by members collective generosity (with the largest check coming from someone named Anomynous). All in all, GPBC members contributed a whopping $4,000 to help support the City of Grosse Pointe upgrade our beautiful Neff Park. If you didn’t make it to the dedication, you might head down to the end of the pier and check them out. Or better yet, come down on race night beginning Wednesdays in June.

After the dedication, it was back to the clubhouse for the official Fitting Out Party featuring “the guilty pleasure buffet” of coney dogs, sliders and fried chicken. More than 60 members and their guests attended the event which doubled as a birthday party for Fast Eddie Benz who turned 89 (or was it 39?) featuring a cake, balloons and a chorus of good wishes.

In other event highlights, four new member were recruited, and Secretary Sheri Allor walked away with $100+ from the 50-50 drawing. The first time she has won in 40+ years of buying tickets.

Thanks go to the folks who helped Commodore Liz Natter with the event: VC Matt and Sofia Bontomasi, RC Brian Fromm, Director Sedona Cox, PC Buzz Young, PC Sheila Tomkowiak, Joyce Present, Erik and Constance Wahab, Mickey Cox, Lori McKutcheon, Chris Kaiser, Mary Scrace, and more. Commodore Liz also sent out special thanks to everyone who “hung their rosaries in the tree or did some special magic to keep the rain drops away.”

More photos here.

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